Synchronization of digital content consumption

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a method includes connecting two or more user computing devices to provide a synchronous presentation session. Each user computing device may present digital content through an instance of a third-party application associated with a third-party content producer. If one or more of the user computing devices falls out of synchronization with one or more other devices, a synchronization message may be sent to the out of synch device(s), whereby the synchronization message may cause the presentation of digital content across all of the devices to be synchronized.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to consuming digital content invirtual reality.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, users who wanted to consume digital content like a movieor a TV show would be limited to watching that content on conventionaldisplay devices such as phones, personal computers (e.g., a laptop ordesktop), or TV sets. These conventional display devices are often onlyappropriate for individual or small groups of users because of the smallsize and limited display abilities of the screens associated with thesedevices. In some cases, users could gather in a movie theater or afriend's house for a more social viewing experience, but in all casesthe viewing experience is limited to a physical setting (e.g., a movietheater, living room, etc.).

To resolve some of these limitations, methods for consuming digitalcontent in a virtual reality (VR) environment have been developed. VRdevices, which allow users to consume digital content in any virtualenvironment, may provide users with a more immersive and varied viewingexperience. For example, instead of watching a movie on a TV set inone's living room, a user may watch the movie in a virtual theater overthe ocean. But conventional VR devices suffer from the distinctdisadvantage that they are solitary devices. Because VR devices areusually headsets aimed at providing a visual and auditory experience forjust one user, the typical content-viewing experience through VR lackssocial interaction between users in the VR environment (e.g., each userwould be watching a movie alone).

SUMMARY OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of this invention are related to allowing multiple users ofvirtual reality devices to co-watch digital content. It should beunderstood that “co-watch” may mean any synchronized consumption ofdigital content and does not necessarily mean only synchronizedco-consumption of visual content. Rather, co-watching may includesynchronized consumption of content based on sight, sound, smell, touch,or taste. Furthermore, it should be understood that the embodimentsdescribed in this application that relate to virtual reality devices mayalso relate to any other type of personal computing device includingphones, TVs, desktop or laptop computers, gaming devices, or any otherdevice capable of presenting digital content to a user.

In some embodiments, multiple users may share a space in a virtualenvironment. Those users may wish to jointly consume digital content,such as a movie, music, or a TV show. In some embodiments, a singleserver may host the digital content, and directly, concurrently streamit to the user device of each user of the virtual space. Theseembodiments may track which user devices should be included in a viewingsession and track the playback of content on each user device. Someembodiments may allow direct control over the playback of each streamand may allow playback controls operated on any one device to affectplayback on all of the remaining devices. However, these embodimentsrequire that the operator of the virtual space have direct access andrights to the digital content that is being streamed. This can requiresignificant expenditures of time and money to accomplish and lacksscalability. As such, other embodiments of this invention may allowmultiple users in a shared virtual space to seamlessly and concurrentlyconsume digital content, with each user separately streaming the contentdirectly from a third-party content application. In this way,embodiments of this invention may allow multiple users, each runningtheir own instance of a third-party content application, to jointlyconsume the same digital content and enjoy a social co-watchingexperience within virtual reality.

In some embodiments, a third-party content application may be used by aplurality of users to stream content directly to those users' virtualreality devices. Some embodiments may begin when each of a plurality ofusers downloads a third-party application associated with a third-partycontent provider onto a respective plurality of virtual reality devices.The third-party application may communicate with the third-party contentprovider to stream content to the users and to enable and controlplayback through the virtual reality devices. In some embodiments thecontent may be played across the full screen of the virtual realitydevices. In other embodiments, the content may be reprojected onto avirtual screen within a virtual environment. Reprojection is a techniquewhich may allow for third-party content to be directly shared from athird-party content application to a virtual reality device and castdirectly into a virtual reality environment on the virtual realitydevice. In some embodiments this may include reprojecting content from athird-party content application onto a virtual TV or a movie theaterscreen in a VR environment. In some embodiments the users may berepresented by avatars within the virtual environment. The avatars maybe represented as human characters and may be seated together on acouch, in a movie theater, or in any other appropriate venue orlocation. The users' reactions to the presented content may be reflectedby the avatars in real-time, thereby providing the users with a socialco-watching experience.

Some embodiments may utilize one of at least three models forsynchronizing digital content. Those models are referred to as the“host-guest” model, the “server” model, and the “omni” model. Each modelmay differ in how the virtual reality devices are connected andcommunicated, and the level of control that any one device may have overthe remaining devices. Each of the three models will be described inadditional detail, below.

The embodiments disclosed herein are only examples, and the scope ofthis disclosure is not limited to them. Particular embodiments mayinclude all, some, or none of the components, elements, features,functions, operations, or steps of the embodiments disclosed above.Embodiments according to the invention are in particular disclosed inthe attached claims directed to a method, a storage medium, a system anda computer program product, wherein any feature mentioned in one claimcategory, e.g. method, can be claimed in another claim category, e.g.system, as well. The dependencies or references back in the attachedclaims are chosen for formal reasons only. However any subject matterresulting from a deliberate reference back to any previous claims (inparticular multiple dependencies) can be claimed as well, so that anycombination of claims and the features thereof are disclosed and can beclaimed regardless of the dependencies chosen in the attached claims.The subject-matter which can be claimed comprises not only thecombinations of features as set out in the attached claims but also anyother combination of features in the claims, wherein each featurementioned in the claims can be combined with any other feature orcombination of other features in the claims. Furthermore, any of theembodiments and features described or depicted herein can be claimed ina separate claim and/or in any combination with any embodiment orfeature described or depicted herein or with any of the features of theattached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment in which a plurality of user computingdevices present the same digital content.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment in which multiple users of usercomputing devices co-watch content provided by an instance of athird-party application.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment utilizing the “host-guest”model.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example embodiment utilizing the “server” model.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment utilizing the “everyone” model.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example method for presenting and synchronizingdigital content across multiple user computing devices.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example network environment 700 associated with asocial-networking system.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example computer system.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In some embodiments, multiple users of user computing devices may seekto co-watch the same digital content. For example, two or more users maybe separated by a geographical distance but may nonetheless wish toco-watch the same content. As another example, two or more users may bein the same geographic location, but may only have access to, or mightotherwise desire to use, user computing devices that are best suited foruse by a single user (e.g., a virtual reality headset). In suchembodiments, the two or more users may desire a method with which theycan co-watch digital content such that the digital content issynchronized across two or more user computing devices.

In some embodiments, multiple users of user computing devices may beable to consume the same digital content without synchronization of thecontent. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment in which a plurality of usercomputing devices present the same digital content. In this embodiment,user computing devices 101 and 102 are each presenting digital contentfrom the movie “Jaws.” In some embodiments, the devices may obtain thecontent from the local storage of the device. In other embodiments, thecontent may be obtained through a streaming service, including athird-party content provider's streaming service. The user computingdevices 101 and 102 may be virtual reality devices. In some embodiments,the user computing devices may also be any other type of user computingdevice, including a cell phone, TV, desktop monitor, laptop, or anyother device capable of presenting digital content to one or more users.In some embodiments, user computing device 101 may be presenting frame103 of the movie while user computing device 102 may be presenting frame104. In some embodiments, the users of the user computing devices mayattempt to synchronize the playback of content across the plurality ofuser computing devices by selecting similar or identical viewingsettings (screen size, volume, playback speed, etc.) and selecting theplay buttons 105 and 106 at the same time. Despite these efforts, insome embodiments, the content presented on the two devices may beout-of-synch (e.g., frame 104 may be a short amount of time before orafter frame 103). For example, computing device 102 may have alreadyshown the head of a shark swimming by and may instead show the tail ofthe shark (frame 104) at the same point in time that computing device101 shows the head of the shark (frame 103). This time difference may becaused by any number of causes including a slight difference in when theplay buttons 105 and 106 were selected on each of the user computingdevices or due to a difference in network connection, buffering orplayback speed between the devices, as examples. Any number ofadditional causes including software or hardware-based causes (e.g.,differences in software versions or hardware models) may also result ina difference in playback between the devices.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment in which multiple users of usercomputing devices co-watch content provided by an instance of athird-party application. In some embodiments, users 208 and 209 mayinteract with their respective user computing devices through viewingapplications 201 and 202. In some embodiments these applications may bevirtual reality applications, co-watching applications, or any otherapplication on the user computing devices with which the users mayinteract. These user computing devices may include any user computingdevices capable of presenting digital content. In some embodiments,instances 203 and 204 of the same third-party application may hostdigital content that users 208 and 209 desire to co-watch on theirrespective user computing devices. Each instance 203 and 204 of thethird-party application may share information back and forth with theuser computing devices 201 and 202. This information may include thedigital content to be presented on the user computing devices, playbackand other controls related to the digital content, and statusinformation related to the playback of the digital content on the usercomputing devices. Each instance 203 and 204 may receive content as adigital stream from each of third-party content providers 210 and 211.In some embodiments third-party content providers 210 and 211 may be thesame third-party content provider. In other embodiments third-partycontent providers 210 and 211 may be different third-party contentproviders. In some embodiments in which 210 and 211 are differentthird-party content providers, the third-party content providers mayeach offer the same digital content for display to the users 208 and209. In some embodiments, the information being passed may be passedfrom the instances 203 and 204 of the third-party application throughsoftware written using a software development kit (SDK) 205 and 206implemented by each instance of the third-party applications. In someembodiments, the SDK based software 205 and 206 may communicate with theuser computing devices by generating a broadcast intent and sending thebroadcast intent to the corresponding viewing application running on auser computing device (e.g., SDK based software 205 may communicate with201 and 206 with 202). In some embodiments, the third-party applications203 and 204 may contain two or more states, wherein at least one stateis directed to sending information to the user computing devices and onestate is directed to receiving information from the user computingdevices. In some embodiments, the information that is being passed mayinclude status information including a timestamp associated with a pieceof digital content (e.g., the current playback time of a movie or TVshow), identifying information related to a piece of digital content(e.g., the name of a movie or TV show), play or pause state information,volume, brightness, color, or playback speed information, or informationrelated to whether a piece of digital content or an advertisement isbeing presented on the user computing devices 201 and 202.

As an example in which two users are co-watching content, the first user208 may desire to fast forward the content. The user may select the fastforward control on his user computing device causing a fast forwardcommand to pass through the viewing application 201, by way of the SDKbased software 205, to the first user's instance of the third-partyapplication 203. The third-party application may, in turn, request thethird-party content from the third-party content provider 210. At thesame time, the first user's viewing application may send thefast-forward command to the second user's 209 viewing application 202,which may in turn pass the command through the third-party application204 to the third-party content provider 211.

In some embodiments, each user of a user computing device may retainindividual or personalized control over some aspects or settings relatedto the presentation of the digital content. In other embodiments, allsettings may be collectively controlled by the users. In someembodiments, individual users may have individual control over aspectsor settings including volume and subtitles. As an example, user 208 maybe using a user computing device 201 that has louder native audio thanthe audio from user 209's user computing device 202. This may be, forexample, because user computing device 201 may be a virtual realityheadset with speakers very close to user 208's ears, while usercomputing device 202 may be a TV mounted on a wall far from user 209.

In some embodiments, each user 208 and 209 may be presented with thesame video content but different audio content. For example, user 208and 209 may both speak English to communicate with one another, but maybe more comfortable listening to sports commentary in their nativelanguages, which may be Spanish for user 208 and Russian for user 209.In this embodiment, user 208 may be presented with the same videocontent as user 209 but with Spanish audio content, while user 209 maybe presented with the video content with Russian audio content. In someembodiments, each user may be presented with individualized orpersonalized video content, which may differ from user to user. Forexample, in some embodiments user 208 may be presented with a soccergame with standard viewing angles and a chat window consisting of otherusers' commentary on the soccer game, while user 209 may be presentedwith a bird's eye view of the game and no chat window. As anotherexample, each user's presentation options and digital environment may bedistinct from any other user. For example, each user may have individualcontrol over the lighting within the virtual reality environment inwhich they are watching the digital content. Similarly, each user mayhave individual control over the location of the screen, setting, orbackground within which the screen is located in a virtual realityenvironment (e.g., each user may choose separately to view the contentin a virtual reality environment corresponding to one of a movietheater, a home living room, a tablet in bed, etc.). It should beunderstood that these are only examples and that personalization,individualization, or customization of video, audio, or other digitalcontent may take any form.

As each user computing device 201 and 202 separately communicates witheach instance of a third-party application 203 and 204, they may do soby way of communication method 207. In some embodiments, communicationmethod 207 may be direct communication between the user computingdevices, for example Bluetooth Low Energy or Infrared. In otherembodiments, 207 may be indirect communication through a serverassociated with the viewing applications 201 and 202 or some othercomputing device associated with the viewing applications 201 and 202.Additional detail regarding the communication method is described in thefigures below.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment utilizing the “host-guest”model. The host-guest model may allow for a first user computing device301 to be recognized as a host and all other users, for example 302 and303, may be recognized as guests. In some embodiments, the host may havedirect control of the digital content (e.g., selection of content,volume, playback of the content, etc.), and the guests may not have anycontrol of the digital content. In these embodiments, the playbackselections made on the host user computing device 301 may becommunicated from the host user computing device 301 to one or moreguest user computing devices 302 and 303. For example, with all threeuser computing devices paused during a particular scene in the movie“Jaws” the play button on the host user computing device 301 may beselected and the content of the movie may begin playing in asynchronized fashion across all three user computing devices 301, 302,and 303. In some embodiments, only the host user computing device mayhave visible control features associated with the playback of thedigital content. For example in FIG. 3 only host user computing device301 has a play button 304, while guest user computing devices 302 and303 do not. In other embodiments, all the user computing devices mayshow the same playback functionality, but only the host's controlfeatures may be operable.

In some embodiments, guest user computing devices 302 and 303 maycommunicate their playback status and other information to hostcomputing device 301. Based on timestamp information and other playbackinformation received from the guest user computing devices, host usercomputing device 301 may send instructions to the guest user computingdevices 302 and 303 to take action such that they remain in asynchronized presentation state with the host user computing device andwith each other. This action may include pausing the digital content orchanging the timestamp of the digital content such that the playbackjumps forward or backward. In some embodiments this action may alsoinclude speeding up or down the playback of the digital content suchthat the playback of the content across all the devices regainssynchronization without the user computing devices coming to a completepause or jumping forward, thereby skipping over previously unwatchedcontent. In some embodiments, the host user computing device 301 mayrelay its playback status to each of the guest user computing devices302 and 303 such that the guest user computing devices can synchronizethe playback of content. In other embodiments, the guest user computingdevices 302 and 303 may relay their status to the host user computingdevice 301 which may take all of the guest user computing devices'status into consideration in a determination of which action should betaken (e.g., what sync to synchronize the playback of content across allof the devices. It should be understood that these actions and all otherpossible actions described in this application to sync content may beperformed by all embodiments of the invention and are not necessarilyassociated with only the host-guest model or any other model describedwithin.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example embodiment utilizing the “server” model.The server model may allow for a server associated with a viewingapplication or some other computing device associated with the viewingapplication to track the presentation of digital content across all usercomputing devices, and may be configured to keep the users synced intheir consumption. In some embodiments, server 401 may send and receiveplayback information associated with all of the user computing devices402, 403, and 404. In some embodiments, all of the user computingdevices may include playback controls, for example a play/pause button405, which may allow the user of any one of the user computing devicesto control the playback on all of the user computing devices. In someembodiments, the server 401 may be one of the user's user computingdevices. In other embodiments, the server 401 may be a separate device,distinct from the user computing devices on which the content is beingpresented. In some embodiments, this separate device may be a device ofone of the users, or it may be a remote server, accessed by the usercomputing devices via a network, such as the Internet.

In the server model, the server may track the playback of content acrossall of the user computing devices and employ rules to keep the playbackof content synchronized. In some embodiments, any user (from 0 to all)may be capable of fully controlling the digital content. In someembodiments, the server may maintain an independently running clock,which may determine the pace at which digital content should bepresented to the user devices. If any one user or subset of users getsahead or behind of the independent clock, the user may be forced to skipor rewatch content to get back on pace with the clock. In someembodiments the rules for maintain the synchronization of content acrossall of the user computing devices may be preset by the user computingdevices, by the third-party content applications, or may be determinedby one or more of the users of the user computing devices. In someembodiments, the rules may be behavioral rules based on previousbehavior of the users of the user computing devices. For example, if theplayback of digital content on user computing device 402 has fallenbehind the playback of digital content on user computing devices 403 and404 two or more times in a session, and each time, the user of usercomputing device 402 has chosen to jump forward, thereby skippingcontent but regaining synchronization with the other user computingdevices, then the rules for user computing device 402 may adapt toautomatically jump forward whenever user computing device 402 fallsbehind in the presentation of content. These rules may be behaviorallylearned on a per session, per user, per content item, or lifetime basisor on any other basis.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment utilizing the “omni” model. Theomni model may allow for each user's device to track and sync with thedevices of each of the other users. For example, under the omni model,each user device may separately communicate playback status or otherinformation related to the playback of content on a particular userdevice (e.g., a playback control selection) with each other connecteduser device. In some embodiments, user devices 501, 502, and 503 may allcommunicate with one another and may all offer equal playback control,represented by 504. For example, each user of a user computing device501, 502, 503 may each be presented with the same playback controloptions. If any one user selects a playback control option (e.g., fastforward) that option may be communicated to each other user computingdevice. In some embodiments, any user may then be able to cease fastforwarding, pause, or rewind the content, regardless of the playbackcontrol options selected by any other user. In some embodiments, whenthe user of user computing device 501 makes a selection to fast forwardcontent, that selection may be communicated to the other user computingdevices 502 and 503. Each user computing device may then pass theselection to a viewing application, on to an instance of a third-partycontent application, and beyond that to a third-party content provider,which pay provide the correct, fast forwarded content. It should beunderstood that 504 and any other representation of playback control mayinclude any variable, controllable information or settings associatedwith the content or the user computing devices.

Like the server model, the omni model may allow for the implementationof various rules to ensure that all user computing devices aresynchronized in their presentation of digital content. These rules maybe presented as choices to the users while they are consuming content.For example, if two users are out of sync, with one user being ahead ofthe other, the users may be presented with options to 1) have the sloweruser skip ahead, 2) force the faster user to jump back and rewatch orwait until the slower user has caught up, or 3) do nothing, as examples.As another example, if there are three or more users who are co-watchingcontent, with the playback of content on each user's device being out ofsync with all other users, the users may be presented with options to 1)skip ahead to the fastest user, 2) jump back to the slowest user, 3)average the playback times across all devices and jump to the averageplayback time. Any number of additional options for rules may beutilized. In some embodiments, the threshold by which the user computingdevices must be out of sync for a rule or policy to be utilized may beselected by the users of the user computing devices. In otherembodiments, the threshold may be learned based on past user selections.Similarly, in some embodiments the choice of option may be selected as adefault or it may be learned based on user selection history.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example method 600 for presenting andsynchronizing digital content across multiple user computing devices.The method may begin at step 610, where a first user computing deviceconnects with at least one other user computing device that is in asynchronous presentation session with the first user computing device.In some embodiments, step 610 may include determining whether other usercomputing devices are in range, are presenting the same content, or areotherwise identifiable as being in a synchronous presentation sessionwith the first user computing device. As an example, in someembodiments, if a first user desires to co-watch content with a seconduser, the first user and the second user may log in or otherwiseactivate an application on their respective user computing devices. Oncelogged in, the users may opt-in to a synchronous presentation sessionsuch that the application may begin searching for and connecting theuser computing devices of the first user and the second user. At step620, the first user computing device may present digital content throughan instance of a third-party application. In some embodiments, at thesame time that the first user computing device is presenting digitalcontent through an instance of a third-party application, one or moreother user computing devices may also be presenting the same digitalcontent through another instance of a third-party application. At step630, a determination may be made regarding whether a synchronizationmessage is to be sent to one or more additional user computing devicesthat are in the same presentation session as the first user computingdevice. If the user computing devices are all synchronized in theirpresentation of the digital content, no synchronization message may besent. However, if one or more user computing devices are notsynchronized or if a synchronization message should be sent based onsome other determination (e.g., automatically per unit time, whenever auser selects a playback control option, whenever a new episode or scenefrom a piece of digital content begins, etc.), the method will proceedto step 640. At step 640, a synchronization message based on a status ofthe digital content being presented by the first user computing devicemay be generated. For example, if the playback of digital content on afirst user computing device is two seconds ahead of the playback of thesame content on a second user computing device, a message may includeinstructions to pause for two seconds or two rewind the presentation ofthe digital content on the first user computing device by two seconds.At step 650 the synchronization message may be sent to the at least oneother user computing device or to a server associated with the at leastone other user computing device. The synchronization message may beconfigured to cause a presentation of the digital content by the otheruser computing device to be synchronized with the presentation of thedigital content by the first user computing device. Particularembodiments may repeat one or more steps of the method of FIG. 6, whereappropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustratesparticular steps of the method of FIG. 6 as occurring in a particularorder, this disclosure contemplates any suitable steps of the method ofFIG. 6 occurring in any suitable order. Moreover, although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates an example method for presentingand synchronizing digital content across multiple user computing devicesincluding the particular steps of the method of FIG. 6, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable method for presenting and synchronizingdigital content across multiple user computing devices including anysuitable steps, which may include all, some, or none of the steps of themethod of FIG. 6, where appropriate. Furthermore, although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates particular components, devices, orsystems carrying out particular steps of the method of FIG. 6, thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable combination of any suitablecomponents, devices, or systems carrying out any suitable steps of themethod of FIG. 6.

Inventors—Boilerplate Begins Here

FIG. 7 illustrates an example network environment 700 associated with asocial-networking system. Network environment 700 includes a clientsystem 730, a social-networking system 760, and a third-party system 770connected to each other by a network 710. Although FIG. 7 illustrates aparticular arrangement of client system 730, social-networking system760, third-party system 770, and network 710, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable arrangement of client system 730,social-networking system 760, third-party system 770, and network 710.As an example and not by way of limitation, two or more of client system730, social-networking system 760, and third-party system 770 may beconnected to each other directly, bypassing network 710. As anotherexample, two or more of client system 730, social-networking system 760,and third-party system 770 may be physically or logically co-locatedwith each other in whole or in part. Moreover, although FIG. 7illustrates a particular number of client systems 730, social-networkingsystems 760, third-party systems 770, and networks 710, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable number of client systems 730,social-networking systems 760, third-party systems 770, and networks710. As an example and not by way of limitation, network environment 700may include multiple client system 730, social-networking systems 760,third-party systems 770, and networks 710.

This disclosure contemplates any suitable network 710. As an example andnot by way of limitation, one or more portions of network 710 mayinclude an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual privatenetwork (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a widearea network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network(MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN), a cellular telephone network, or a combinationof two or more of these. Network 710 may include one or more networks710.

Links 750 may connect client system 730, social-networking system 760,and third-party system 770 to communication network 710 or to eachother. This disclosure contemplates any suitable links 750. Inparticular embodiments, one or more links 750 include one or morewireline (such as for example Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or Data OverCable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS)), wireless (such as forexample Wi-Fi or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX)), or optical (such as for example Synchronous Optical Network(SONET) or Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)) links. In particularembodiments, one or more links 750 each include an ad hoc network, anintranet, an extranet, a VPN, a LAN, a WLAN, a WAN, a WWAN, a MAN, aportion of the Internet, a portion of the PSTN, a cellulartechnology-based network, a satellite communications technology-basednetwork, another link 750, or a combination of two or more such links750. Links 750 need not necessarily be the same throughout networkenvironment 700. One or more first links 750 may differ in one or morerespects from one or more second links 750.

In particular embodiments, client system 730 may be an electronic deviceincluding hardware, software, or embedded logic components or acombination of two or more such components and capable of carrying outthe appropriate functionalities implemented or supported by clientsystem 730. As an example and not by way of limitation, a client system730 may include a computer system such as a desktop computer, notebookor laptop computer, netbook, a tablet computer, e-book reader, GPSdevice, camera, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld electronicdevice, cellular telephone, smartphone, augmented/virtual realitydevice, other suitable electronic device, or any suitable combinationthereof. This disclosure contemplates any suitable client systems 730. Aclient system 730 may enable a network user at client system 730 toaccess network 710. A client system 730 may enable its user tocommunicate with other users at other client systems 730.

In particular embodiments, client system 730 may include a web browser732, such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, GOOGLE CHROME or MOZILLAFIREFOX, and may have one or more add-ons, plug-ins, or otherextensions, such as TOOLBAR or YAHOO TOOLBAR. A user at client system730 may enter a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or other addressdirecting the web browser 732 to a particular server (such as server762, or a server associated with a third-party system 770), and the webbrowser 732 may generate a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) requestand communicate the HTTP request to server. The server may accept theHTTP request and communicate to client system 730 one or more Hyper TextMarkup Language (HTML) files responsive to the HTTP request. Clientsystem 730 may render a webpage based on the HTML files from the serverfor presentation to the user. This disclosure contemplates any suitablewebpage files. As an example and not by way of limitation, webpages mayrender from HTML files, Extensible Hyper Text Markup Language (XHTML)files, or Extensible Markup Language (XML) files, according toparticular needs. Such pages may also execute scripts such as, forexample and without limitation, those written in JAVASCRIPT, JAVA,MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT, combinations of markup language and scripts suchas AJAX (Asynchronous JAVASCRIPT and XML), and the like. Herein,reference to a webpage encompasses one or more corresponding webpagefiles (which a browser may use to render the webpage) and vice versa,where appropriate.

In particular embodiments, social-networking system 760 may be anetwork-addressable computing system that can host an online socialnetwork. Social-networking system 760 may generate, store, receive, andsend social-networking data, such as, for example, user-profile data,concept-profile data, social-graph information, or other suitable datarelated to the online social network. Social-networking system 760 maybe accessed by the other components of network environment 700 eitherdirectly or via network 710. As an example and not by way of limitation,client system 730 may access social-networking system 760 using a webbrowser 732, or a native application associated with social-networkingsystem 760 (e.g., a mobile social-networking application, a messagingapplication, another suitable application, or any combination thereof)either directly or via network 710. In particular embodiments,social-networking system 760 may include one or more servers 762. Eachserver 762 may be a unitary server or a distributed server spanningmultiple computers or multiple datacenters. Servers 762 may be ofvarious types, such as, for example and without limitation, web server,news server, mail server, message server, advertising server, fileserver, application server, exchange server, database server, proxyserver, another server suitable for performing functions or processesdescribed herein, or any combination thereof. In particular embodiments,each server 762 may include hardware, software, or embedded logiccomponents or a combination of two or more such components for carryingout the appropriate functionalities implemented or supported by server762. In particular embodiments, social-networking system 760 may includeone or more data stores 764. Data stores 764 may be used to storevarious types of information. In particular embodiments, the informationstored in data stores 764 may be organized according to specific datastructures. In particular embodiments, each data store 764 may be arelational, columnar, correlation, or other suitable database. Althoughthis disclosure describes or illustrates particular types of databases,this disclosure contemplates any suitable types of databases. Particularembodiments may provide interfaces that enable a client system 730, asocial-networking system 760, or a third-party system 770 to manage,retrieve, modify, add, or delete, the information stored in data store764.

In particular embodiments, social-networking system 760 may store one ormore social graphs in one or more data stores 764. In particularembodiments, a social graph may include multiple nodes—which may includemultiple user nodes (each corresponding to a particular user) ormultiple concept nodes (each corresponding to a particular concept)—andmultiple edges connecting the nodes. Social-networking system 760 mayprovide users of the online social network the ability to communicateand interact with other users. In particular embodiments, users may jointhe online social network via social-networking system 760 and then addconnections (e.g., relationships) to a number of other users ofsocial-networking system 760 to whom they want to be connected. Herein,the term “friend” may refer to any other user of social-networkingsystem 760 with whom a user has formed a connection, association, orrelationship via social-networking system 760.

In particular embodiments, social-networking system 760 may provideusers with the ability to take actions on various types of items orobjects, supported by social-networking system 760. As an example andnot by way of limitation, the items and objects may include groups orsocial networks to which users of social-networking system 760 maybelong, events or calendar entries in which a user might be interested,computer-based applications that a user may use, transactions that allowusers to buy or sell items via the service, interactions withadvertisements that a user may perform, or other suitable items orobjects. A user may interact with anything that is capable of beingrepresented in social-networking system 760 or by an external system ofthird-party system 770, which is separate from social-networking system760 and coupled to social-networking system 760 via a network 710.

In particular embodiments, social-networking system 760 may be capableof linking a variety of entities. As an example and not by way oflimitation, social-networking system 760 may enable users to interactwith each other as well as receive content from third-party systems 770or other entities, or to allow users to interact with these entitiesthrough an application programming interfaces (API) or othercommunication channels.

In particular embodiments, a third-party system 770 may include one ormore types of servers, one or more data stores, one or more interfaces,including but not limited to APIs, one or more web services, one or morecontent sources, one or more networks, or any other suitable components,e.g., that servers may communicate with. A third-party system 770 may beoperated by a different entity from an entity operatingsocial-networking system 760. In particular embodiments, however,social-networking system 760 and third-party systems 770 may operate inconjunction with each other to provide social-networking services tousers of social-networking system 760 or third-party systems 770. Inthis sense, social-networking system 760 may provide a platform, orbackbone, which other systems, such as third-party systems 770, may useto provide social-networking services and functionality to users acrossthe Internet.

In particular embodiments, a third-party system 770 may include athird-party content object provider. A third-party content objectprovider may include one or more sources of content objects, which maybe communicated to a client system 730. As an example and not by way oflimitation, content objects may include information regarding things oractivities of interest to the user, such as, for example, movie showtimes, movie reviews, restaurant reviews, restaurant menus, productinformation and reviews, or other suitable information. As anotherexample and not by way of limitation, content objects may includeincentive content objects, such as coupons, discount tickets, giftcertificates, or other suitable incentive objects.

In particular embodiments, social-networking system 760 also includesuser-generated content objects, which may enhance a user's interactionswith social-networking system 760. User-generated content may includeanything a user can add, upload, send, or “post” to social-networkingsystem 760. As an example and not by way of limitation, a usercommunicates posts to social-networking system 760 from a client system730. Posts may include data such as status updates or other textualdata, location information, photos, videos, links, music or othersimilar data or media. Content may also be added to social-networkingsystem 760 by a third-party through a “communication channel,” such as anewsfeed or stream.

In particular embodiments, social-networking system 760 may include avariety of servers, sub-systems, programs, modules, logs, and datastores. In particular embodiments, social-networking system 760 mayinclude one or more of the following: a web server, action logger,API-request server, relevance-and-ranking engine, content-objectclassifier, notification controller, action log,third-party-content-object-exposure log, inference module,authorization/privacy server, search module, advertisement-targetingmodule, user-interface module, user-profile store, connection store,third-party content store, or location store. Social-networking system760 may also include suitable components such as network interfaces,security mechanisms, load balancers, failover servers,management-and-network-operations consoles, other suitable components,or any suitable combination thereof. In particular embodiments,social-networking system 760 may include one or more user-profile storesfor storing user profiles. A user profile may include, for example,biographic information, demographic information, behavioral information,social information, or other types of descriptive information, such aswork experience, educational history, hobbies or preferences, interests,affinities, or location. Interest information may include interestsrelated to one or more categories. Categories may be general orspecific. As an example and not by way of limitation, if a user “likes”an article about a brand of shoes the category may be the brand, or thegeneral category of “shoes” or “clothing.” A connection store may beused for storing connection information about users. The connectioninformation may indicate users who have similar or common workexperience, group memberships, hobbies, educational history, or are inany way related or share common attributes. The connection informationmay also include user-defined connections between different users andcontent (both internal and external). A web server may be used forlinking social-networking system 760 to one or more client systems 730or one or more third-party system 770 via network 710. The web servermay include a mail server or other messaging functionality for receivingand routing messages between social-networking system 760 and one ormore client systems 730. An API-request server may allow a third-partysystem 770 to access information from social-networking system 760 bycalling one or more APIs. An action logger may be used to receivecommunications from a web server about a user's actions on or offsocial-networking system 760. In conjunction with the action log, athird-party-content-object log may be maintained of user exposures tothird-party-content objects. A notification controller may provideinformation regarding content objects to a client system 730.Information may be pushed to a client system 730 as notifications, orinformation may be pulled from client system 730 responsive to a requestreceived from client system 730. Authorization servers may be used toenforce one or more privacy settings of the users of social-networkingsystem 760. A privacy setting of a user determines how particularinformation associated with a user can be shared. The authorizationserver may allow users to opt in to or opt out of having their actionslogged by social-networking system 760 or shared with other systems(e.g., third-party system 770), such as, for example, by settingappropriate privacy settings. Third-party-content-object stores may beused to store content objects received from third parties, such as athird-party system 770. Location stores may be used for storing locationinformation received from client systems 730 associated with users.Advertisement-pricing modules may combine social information, thecurrent time, location information, or other suitable information toprovide relevant advertisements, in the form of notifications, to auser.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example computer system 800. In particularembodiments, one or more computer systems 800 perform one or more stepsof one or more methods described or illustrated herein. In particularembodiments, one or more computer systems 800 provide functionalitydescribed or illustrated herein. In particular embodiments, softwarerunning on one or more computer systems 800 performs one or more stepsof one or more methods described or illustrated herein or providesfunctionality described or illustrated herein. Particular embodimentsinclude one or more portions of one or more computer systems 800.Herein, reference to a computer system may encompass a computing device,and vice versa, where appropriate. Moreover, reference to a computersystem may encompass one or more computer systems, where appropriate.

This disclosure contemplates any suitable number of computer systems800. This disclosure contemplates computer system 800 taking anysuitable physical form. As example and not by way of limitation,computer system 800 may be an embedded computer system, a system-on-chip(SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, for example, acomputer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop computersystem, a laptop or notebook computer system, an interactive kiosk, amainframe, a mesh of computer systems, a mobile telephone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a server, a tablet computer system, anaugmented/virtual reality device, or a combination of two or more ofthese. Where appropriate, computer system 800 may include one or morecomputer systems 800; be unitary or distributed; span multiplelocations; span multiple machines; span multiple data centers; or residein a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one ormore networks. Where appropriate, one or more computer systems 800 mayperform without substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or moresteps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. As anexample and not by way of limitation, one or more computer systems 800may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of one ormore methods described or illustrated herein. One or more computersystems 800 may perform at different times or at different locations oneor more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein,where appropriate.

In particular embodiments, computer system 800 includes a processor 802,memory 804, storage 806, an input/output (I/O) interface 808, acommunication interface 810, and a bus 812. Although this disclosuredescribes and illustrates a particular computer system having aparticular number of particular components in a particular arrangement,this disclosure contemplates any suitable computer system having anysuitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement.

In particular embodiments, processor 802 includes hardware for executinginstructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an exampleand not by way of limitation, to execute instructions, processor 802 mayretrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, aninternal cache, memory 804, or storage 806; decode and execute them; andthen write one or more results to an internal register, an internalcache, memory 804, or storage 806. In particular embodiments, processor802 may include one or more internal caches for data, instructions, oraddresses. This disclosure contemplates processor 802 including anysuitable number of any suitable internal caches, where appropriate. Asan example and not by way of limitation, processor 802 may include oneor more instruction caches, one or more data caches, and one or moretranslation lookaside buffers (TLBs). Instructions in the instructioncaches may be copies of instructions in memory 804 or storage 806, andthe instruction caches may speed up retrieval of those instructions byprocessor 802. Data in the data caches may be copies of data in memory804 or storage 806 for instructions executing at processor 802 tooperate on; the results of previous instructions executed at processor802 for access by subsequent instructions executing at processor 802 orfor writing to memory 804 or storage 806; or other suitable data. Thedata caches may speed up read or write operations by processor 802. TheTLBs may speed up virtual-address translation for processor 802. Inparticular embodiments, processor 802 may include one or more internalregisters for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosurecontemplates processor 802 including any suitable number of any suitableinternal registers, where appropriate. Where appropriate, processor 802may include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs); be a multi-coreprocessor; or include one or more processors 802. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular processor, thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable processor.

In particular embodiments, memory 804 includes main memory for storinginstructions for processor 802 to execute or data for processor 802 tooperate on. As an example and not by way of limitation, computer system800 may load instructions from storage 806 or another source (such as,for example, another computer system 800) to memory 804. Processor 802may then load the instructions from memory 804 to an internal registeror internal cache. To execute the instructions, processor 802 mayretrieve the instructions from the internal register or internal cacheand decode them. During or after execution of the instructions,processor 802 may write one or more results (which may be intermediateor final results) to the internal register or internal cache. Processor802 may then write one or more of those results to memory 804. Inparticular embodiments, processor 802 executes only instructions in oneor more internal registers or internal caches or in memory 804 (asopposed to storage 806 or elsewhere) and operates only on data in one ormore internal registers or internal caches or in memory 804 (as opposedto storage 806 or elsewhere). One or more memory buses (which may eachinclude an address bus and a data bus) may couple processor 802 tomemory 804. Bus 812 may include one or more memory buses, as describedbelow. In particular embodiments, one or more memory management units(MMUs) reside between processor 802 and memory 804 and facilitateaccesses to memory 804 requested by processor 802. In particularembodiments, memory 804 includes random access memory (RAM). This RAMmay be volatile memory, where appropriate. Where appropriate, this RAMmay be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). Moreover, whereappropriate, this RAM may be single-ported or multi-ported RAM. Thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable RAM. Memory 804 may include one ormore memories 804, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describesand illustrates particular memory, this disclosure contemplates anysuitable memory.

In particular embodiments, storage 806 includes mass storage for data orinstructions. As an example and not by way of limitation, storage 806may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive, flash memory,an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of these. Storage806 may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, whereappropriate. Storage 806 may be internal or external to computer system800, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, storage 806 isnon-volatile, solid-state memory. In particular embodiments, storage 806includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may bemask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM),electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM),or flash memory or a combination of two or more of these. Thisdisclosure contemplates mass storage 806 taking any suitable physicalform. Storage 806 may include one or more storage control unitsfacilitating communication between processor 802 and storage 806, whereappropriate. Where appropriate, storage 806 may include one or morestorages 806. Although this disclosure describes and illustratesparticular storage, this disclosure contemplates any suitable storage.

In particular embodiments, I/O interface 808 includes hardware,software, or both, providing one or more interfaces for communicationbetween computer system 800 and one or more I/O devices. Computer system800 may include one or more of these I/O devices, where appropriate. Oneor more of these I/O devices may enable communication between a personand computer system 800. As an example and not by way of limitation, anI/O device may include a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse,printer, scanner, speaker, still camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen,trackball, video camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination oftwo or more of these. An I/O device may include one or more sensors.This disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O devices and any suitableI/O interfaces 808 for them. Where appropriate, I/O interface 808 mayinclude one or more device or software drivers enabling processor 802 todrive one or more of these I/O devices. I/O interface 808 may includeone or more I/O interfaces 808, where appropriate. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular I/O interface, thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable I/O interface.

In particular embodiments, communication interface 810 includeshardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces forcommunication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) betweencomputer system 800 and one or more other computer systems 800 or one ormore networks. As an example and not by way of limitation, communicationinterface 810 may include a network interface controller (NIC) ornetwork adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-basednetwork or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicatingwith a wireless network, such as a WI-FI network. This disclosurecontemplates any suitable network and any suitable communicationinterface 810 for it. As an example and not by way of limitation,computer system 800 may communicate with an ad hoc network, a personalarea network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or one or more portions of theInternet or a combination of two or more of these. One or more portionsof one or more of these networks may be wired or wireless. As anexample, computer system 800 may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN)(such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WI-MAXnetwork, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), or other suitablewireless network or a combination of two or more of these. Computersystem 800 may include any suitable communication interface 810 for anyof these networks, where appropriate. Communication interface 810 mayinclude one or more communication interfaces 810, where appropriate.Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particularcommunication interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitablecommunication interface.

In particular embodiments, bus 812 includes hardware, software, or bothcoupling components of computer system 800 to each other. As an exampleand not by way of limitation, bus 812 may include an AcceleratedGraphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry StandardArchitecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT)interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBANDinterconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro ChannelArchitecture (MCA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, aPCI-Express (PCIe) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, oranother suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these. Bus 812may include one or more buses 812, where appropriate. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular bus, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable bus or interconnect.

Herein, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium or media mayinclude one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits(ICs) (such, as for example, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) orapplication-specific ICs (ASICs)), hard disk drives (HDDs), hybrid harddrives (HHDs), optical discs, optical disc drives (ODDs),magneto-optical discs, magneto-optical drives, floppy diskettes, floppydisk drives (FDDs), magnetic tapes, solid-state drives (SSDs),RAM-drives, SECURE DIGITAL cards or drives, any other suitablecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media, or any suitablecombination of two or more of these, where appropriate. Acomputer-readable non-transitory storage medium may be volatile,non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, whereappropriate.

Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicatedotherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B”means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicatedotherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unlessexpressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,”unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.

The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions,variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodimentsdescribed or illustrated herein that a person having ordinary skill inthe art would comprehend. The scope of this disclosure is not limited tothe example embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover,although this disclosure describes and illustrates respectiveembodiments herein as including particular components, elements,feature, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments mayinclude any combination or permutation of any of the components,elements, features, functions, operations, or steps described orillustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in theart would comprehend. Furthermore, reference in the appended claims toan apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system beingadapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operableto, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses thatapparatus, system, component, whether or not it or that particularfunction is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as thatapparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable,configured, enabled, operable, or operative. Additionally, although thisdisclosure describes or illustrates particular embodiments as providingparticular advantages, particular embodiments may provide none, some, orall of these advantages.

The claims:
 1. A method comprising: by a first user computing device,connecting to at least one second user computing device that is in asynchronous presentation session with the first user computing device;by the first user computing device, presenting digital content obtainedthrough an instance of a third-party application on the first usercomputing device; by the first user computing device, receiving aplayback status of the digital content being presented by the seconduser computing device; by the first user computing device, comparing theplayback status of the digital content on the second user computingdevice with a playback status of the digital content on the first usercomputing device; by the first user computing device, determining thatthe digital content on the second user computing device is out ofsynchronization with the digital content on the first user computingdevice based on comparison of the playback status associated with thesecond user computing device with the playback status associated withthe first user computing device; by the first user computing device,generating a synchronization message to send to the second usercomputing device; and by the first user computing device, sending thesynchronization message to the second user computing device or a serverassociated with the second user computing device, wherein thesynchronization message comprises instructions for the second usercomputing device to perform an action to cause a presentation of thedigital content by the second user computing device to be synchronizedwith the presentation of the digital content by the first user computingdevice.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of connecting to theat least one other second user computing device that is in thesynchronous presentation session with the first user computing devicecomprises connecting directly with the at least one second usercomputing device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital contentobtained through the instance of the third-party application is streamedfrom a third-party content source associated with the third-partyapplication.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first user computingdevice and the at least one second user computing device comprisevirtual reality devices, and wherein presenting the digital content onthe first user computing device comprises reprojecting the digitalcontent streamed from the third-party content source on a screen in avirtual reality environment.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein a user ofthe first user computing device is represented by a digital avatar inthe virtual reality environment.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thestep of connecting to the at least one second user computing device thatis in the synchronous presentation session with the first user computingdevice comprises connecting through a server associated with the atleast one second user computing device.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the digital content presented by the second usercomputing device is obtained through a second instance of thethird-party application on the second user computing device.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the synchronization message is configured tocontrol a playback of the digital content presented by the second usercomputing device through the second instance of the third-partyapplication.
 10. A system comprising: one or more processors; and one ormore computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to one ormore of the processors and comprising instructions operable whenexecuted by one or more of the processors to cause the system to:connect to at least one second user computing device that is in asynchronous presentation session with a first user computing device;present digital content obtained through an instance of a third-partyapplication on the first user computing device; receive a playbackstatus of the digital content being presented by the second usercomputing device; compare the playback status of the digital content onthe second user computing device with a playback status of the digitalcontent on the first user computing device; determine that the digitalcontent on the second user computing device is out of synchronizationwith the digital content on the first user computing device based oncomparison of the playback status associated with the second usercomputing device with the playback status associated with the first usercomputing device; generate a synchronization message to send to thesecond user computing device; and send the synchronization message tothe second user computing device or a server associated with the seconduser computing device, wherein the synchronization message comprisesinstructions for the second user computing device to perform an actionto cause a presentation of the digital content by the second usercomputing device to be synchronized with the presentation of the digitalcontent by the first user computing device.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the step of connecting to the at least one second user computingdevice that is in the synchronous presentation session with the firstuser computing device comprises connecting directly with the at leastone second user computing device.
 12. The system of claim 10, whereinthe digital content obtained through the instance of the third-partyapplication is streamed from a third-party content source associatedwith the third-party application.
 13. The system of claim 12, whereinthe first user computing device and the at least one second usercomputing device comprise virtual reality devices, and whereinpresenting the digital content on the first user computing devicecomprises reprojecting the digital content streamed from the third-partycontent source on a screen in a virtual reality environment.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein a user of the first user computing device isrepresented by a digital avatar in the virtual reality environment. 15.The system of claim 10, wherein the step of connecting to the at leastone second user computing device that is in the synchronous presentationsession with the first user computing device comprises connectingthrough a server associated with the at least one second user computingdevice.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The system of claim 10, wherein theprocessors are further operable when executing the instructions to: bythe second user computing device, present the digital content through asecond instance of the third-party application on the second usercomputing device.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein thesynchronization message is configured to control a playback of thedigital content presented by the second user computing device throughthe second instance of the third-party application.
 19. One or morecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying softwareoperable when executed by a computer system to: connect to at least onesecond user computing device that is in a synchronous presentationsession with a first user computing device; present digital contentobtained through an instance of a third-party application on the firstuser computing device; receive a playback status of the digital contentbeing presented by the second user computing device; compare theplayback status of the digital content on the second user computingdevice with a playback status of the digital content on the first usercomputing device; determine that the digital content on the second usercomputing device is out of synchronization with the digital content onthe first user computing device based on comparison of the playbackstatus associated with the second user computing device with theplayback status associated with the first user computing device;generate a synchronization message to send to the second user computingdevice; and send the synchronization message to the second usercomputing device or a server associated with the second user computingdevice, wherein the synchronization message comprises instructions forthe second user computing device to perform an action to cause apresentation of the digital content by the second user computing deviceto be synchronized with the presentation of the digital content by thefirst user computing device.
 20. The media of claim 19, wherein the stepof connecting to the at least one second user computing device that isin the synchronous presentation session with the first user computingdevice comprises connecting directly with the at least one second usercomputing device.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronizationmessage is configured to control a playback of the digital content onthe second user computing device based on user behavioral rulesassociated with the second user computing device.
 22. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the user behavioral rules are learned based on pastbehavior or actions of the second user in the synchronous presentationsession or in previous synchronous presentation sessions with one ormore other user computing devices.